Oyster-dredge



(No Model.)

v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. WATTS.

OYSTERYDREDGE.

No. 322,511; Patented Julyzi, 1885.

- WfiJvEssEs N. PETERS Pholo'LllhognpMr. WauhXn-a n. 11C,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

EQWATTS, OYSTER DREDGE. I No. 322,511 atented J uly 21, 1885.

N, PETERS. Hick-Lithographer, Wnmngon. I1 I;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS WATTS, OF KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY.

.OYSTER-DREDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,511, dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed December 4, 1884. (No model.)

scribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the dredge in the position for dragging. Fig. 2 shows the position of the dredge as it is being lowered into the boat. of the dredge after it has reached the bottom of the boat; and Fig. 4 shows the dredge in the dumping position.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the bow-frame of the drag,and B is the rake-head, which is provided with the rake-teeth O. D designates the basket, which is hinged to the rake-head B by hook-hinges E, made integral with the basket-arms. At its upper corners the basket is provided with eyes F, to which the chains or ropes G G are secured. These chains or ropes, as the case may be, are connected also to hooks H H on the cross-bar I of the bowframe A, to hold the basket in the Working position. By the ropes or chains, as the case may be, regulated or adjusted to take a stronger or lesser hold of the bottom or oyster-bed, according to the nature of the bottom, whether soft or hard.

This dredge is self-dumping, and does not require to be taken hold of and shaken. It catches the oysters much cleaner than the chain-dredges, as the moss that grows on the oyster-beds washes through between the bars of the basket or bag, and it can b'e'operated with less line than other dredges with chainbags, and the basket always retains its shape, and is certain in its operation. The basket is first dragged over the oyster-bed, with the rake-teeth down, causing the oysters to be loosened and caught by and received in the basket. When the basket begins to ascend,

Fig. 3 shows the position it stands in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position it is swung in over the boat and lowered into the hold of the vessel. basket strikes the bottom of the hold while in this vertical position, and by reason of the hinged connection, said basket yields upward, causing the slackening of the chain. The

bow-frame is then gradually lowered whilethe chain is in the slack state, the hooks being withdrawn from the chains, and the latter dropping automatically down to the bottom of the boat. The basket has now reached the position shown in Fig. 3, when the bow-frame is again raised, as seen in Fig. 4, this action causing the basket to catch against the bottom of the boat or the oysters therein, and be tilted or emptied entirely of its contents. After the oysters have been thus automatically dumped, the chains, which have become detached from the hooks H H on the crossbar I, are again hooked up, and the dredge is raised, and the derrick swung round and the dredge lowered, and the operation repeated until the vessel has been loaded.

and frame; but in this construction no provision was made for the automatic dumpingor unloading of the basket. In my improvement the chains, while serving to hold the basket and bow-frame together, are adapted to be automatically disconnected from the said The frame, as hereinbefore described, to allow the a dumping of the basket.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination, with the bow-frame, of

the hinged basket and chains attached to the Ioo being automatically disconnected in dumping In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the basket, as set forth. my own I have hereto affiXed my signature in IO 3. The bow-frame having the rakehead and presence of two Witnesses.

teeth, in combination with the hinged basket,

5 hooks provided on the bowframe, chains con- ELIAS WVATTS' nected to the basket, and adapted to engage WVitnesses: with the hooks, and the cross-bar I at the front DAVID WARNER,

end of the frame, as set forth. MARcUs B. TAYLOR. 

